Eemshaven — Netherlands

Eemshaven is a 1,600 MW coal power station in Groningen, Netherlands. It is operated by Essent. Based on reported annual generation of 14,471 GWh, it can supply roughly 4.1 million homes. It ranks #2 of 119 Netherlands power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2015, it is around 11 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 323,488 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 75k cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 7.1% of Netherlands's electricity; the national grid averages 254 gCO₂/kWh (54.2% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1019289.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000103088; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 1,600 MW, Eemshaven is well above the median coal plant in Netherlands (1,040 MW). Technically it is described as IGCC. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

~323,488 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms

This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:

Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.

Key facts

Share of Netherlands coal capacity

22.5% of 7,116 MW across 7 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

3 of 6 dated coal plants in Netherlands are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Reported generation trend

Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Essent.

Local climate & thermal context

This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 53.4°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 29% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 67/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #1 largest coal power plant of 7 in Netherlands by capacity.

Netherlands has 7 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 7,116 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Eems · Gas · 1,931 MW · Groningen
• Magnum · Gas · 1,290 MW · Groningen
• Westereems · Wind · 162 MW · Groningen
• Delfzijl Zuid · Wind · 78.2 MW · Groningen
• Delesto · Gas · 523 MW · Groningen
• Eneco Bio Golden Raand power station · Biomass · 49 MW · Groningen

Location

Coordinates 53.4355, 6.8793 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions